Device for adjusting the distance between the electrodes of an electrolytic cell of the mercury cathode type



March 5, 1957 c. DEPREZ E 2,784,157

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ELECTRODES OF AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL OR THE MERCURY CATHODE TYPE Filed Jan. 4, 1955 DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE DISTANCE BE- TWEEN THE ELECTRQDES OF AN ELECTRO- LYTHC CELL 9F THE MERCURY CATHODE TYPE Charles Deprez, Uccle-Brussels, Belgium, assignor to Solvay & Cie., Brussels, Belgium, a Belgian company Application January 4, 1955, Serial No. 47 9,745

Claims priority, application Belgium January 7, 1954 6 Claims. (Cl. 204-419) In Belgian patent specification No. 522,772 filed on September 12, 1953, there is described a process and device for accurately regulating the distance between cathode and anodes of an electrolytic cell having a moving mercury cathode. The operation consists in causing movable spacing members to emerge from the mercury supporting surface, freeing the anodes, bringing the anodes into contact with the spacing members, fixing the anodes in their new position and then causing the spacing members to withdraw into their respective recesses. T he particular device described comprises retractible spacing members controlled by a mechanism which is external with respect to the zone in which electrolysis takes place.

The present invention relates more particularly to cells of the horizontal type and has for its object to provide a device whereby the anodes may be freed from the instant when the spacing members are put into action and be fixed in their new position before these members are retracted into their recesses.

This device comprises supports adjustable in height, known per se, on which the anodes simply rest, and according to the invention these adjustable supports are carried by further supports movable in a vertical direction which can continue moving downwards whilst taking along the adjustable supports after the anodes have taken up their new position in the cell. The anodes then no longer being in contact with their adjustable supports are thereafter supported by other means, for example, temporary supports, such as retra-ctible spacing members emerging from the bottom of the cell.

The movable supports rest in turn on members which control their position in relation to the electrolytic tank, such as for example cams controlled by a shaft which preferably carries further cams controlling the position of the retractible spacing members.

In order to explain the new industrial results provided by the invention and to make more clearly understood the application of the device to an electrolytic cell, the following example is given to illustrate the regulating of the distance between anodes and cathode of a horizonta cell provided with retractible spacing members.

rates Fatent By causing the cam shaft to rotate, the anode supports are moved downwards to an extent greater than the depth of wear of the anodes. The anodes no longer being supported descend under the action of gravity until they come to rest on the emerged spacing members. The anodes are then fixed in this position by raising the vertically movable supports up to the desired height while the spacing members are retracted.

By way of non-limiting example the accompanying drawings illustrate in cross-section an electrolytic cell pro vided with a device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows the position of an anode and of the device prior to regulating.

Figure 2 shows a retractible spacing member in emerged position on which rests the freed anode, and

Figure 3 shows the anode fixed in position whilst the 2,784,157 Patented Mar. 5, 1957 adjustable spacing member has been retracted into its recess.

According to Figure 1 the cell is represented by the following element-s: graphite anodes 1, a supporting plate 2 for the mercury layer, not shown in the drawing for the sake of clearness, a lateral wall 4 coated with electrical insulating material, an anodic plate 11 supporting the anodes 1 and coated with insulating material, a crossbar 12 fixed to the anodic plate 11 and supporting the latter, a supporting bar proper 13 resting on a member 14 adjustable in height, a packing joint 15 held in place by a pressing member 16, and a reinforcing angle iron 3.

The device for regulating the distance between anodes and cathode comprises retractible spacing members constituted by movable pins 6 seated in sockets 5 fixed on the mercury support plate 2, packing arrangements for the mercury consituted, for example by elastic bellows Illa, closed by plates 1% fast with the control rod for the pin, and a slider 8 moved by cams 7 fixed on a shaft 17, driven by a lever 9.

The device for freeing the anodes, which is movable in a vertical direction, comprises regulating members 14 provided with discs supporting the anode arrangement, said members having a threaded part screwing in a bush 23, fast with a stem 18 terminating at its other end in a slider 19 whose position is determined by earns 20 moved by a driving shaft 17, which preferably i the driving shaft of the pin cams 7. The bushes are guided by cylinders 21 fixed on the electrolytic cell.

In order to regulate accurately the height of the anodes, a fixed graduated disc 24 may be arranged behind the lever 9.

The device works as follows:

During the first quarter of a revolution of the lever 9 the cams 7 raise the pins 6 into position (as shown in Figure 2), the stems 18 not being moved.

In the course of the second quarter revolution of the lever, during which the pins remain raised, cam 20 brings stems 18 downwards and in this way the anodes 1 descend likewise until they come into contact with the pins 6. This instant can be observed without difficulty because the supporting bar 13 separates from'the supporting disc fast with regulating member 14, the angle traversed from the beginning of the second quarter of the revolution until the moment when the anodes stop measuring the wear of the anode since the previous regulation of the anodes. After the second quarter of the revolution has been completed a certain distance has been established. By acting on the head 22 of the screw 14 (see Figure 2) the latter is caused to enter the bush 123 to an extent slightly greater than the depth of wear of the anode.

The rotation of the lever is then continued (see Figure 2). causes the stem 18 to move upwards. When the third quarter of the revolution has been completed this stem reoccupies its upper position, but the disc of screw 14 is not yet in contact with the anode support 13. The screw is then raised again by causing it to turn in the reverse sense until contact is reestablished.

During the last quarter of the revolution of lever 9 the whole supporting arrangement of the anodes remains in position, but the pins 6 re-enter their recesses 5.

The device makes it possible also to ascertain the state of wear of the anodes. To this effect it is sufiicient, after a fresh anode has been placed in position, to make a mark, for instance on the bush 23 at a distance from distance between the disc and the mark will show the thickness 'of the anode still in use.

" It will be understood that in order to permit easy movement of the anodic plates 11, it may be necessary to re The pin 6 remains in raised position and cam 20' lease. the pressure exerted by the packing s .To. this effect, an actuation system could be provided, which for example, acts on the position of the pressing member 16 by means. of the stems 18.

It is understood that the form of carrying out the invention described above is given by way of" example. Other forms may be proposed as well as othercontrol systems without departing from the scope of the invention, provided that the device comprises an adjustable support, a moving support, and a driving device for moving of the assembly.

I claim:

l. A device for adjusting the distance between the electrodes. of. an electrolytic cell of the mercury cathode type wherein graphite, anodes are spaced: from a flowing layer of mercury, which comprises, carrier means supporting. the graphite anodes, a cell sole adapted to support the mercury cathode layer opposite. said anodes, said. cell sole being provided with a plurality of recesses, spacing members seated in said recesses and axially movable therein for displacement toward and away from said. anodes, means actuatable exteriorly of said electrolytic ell for axially moving said spacing members, at. least one support assembly mounted. outside said cell and engageable with said carrier means. to position said carrier means and its anodes in relation to the cell sole, and means for vertically displacing said support assembly, said support assembly being movable downwardly to bring the anodes into contact with said spacing members and to release said. carrier from said support. assembly when n said spacing members are displaced upwardly from said recesses.

2. A device for adjusting the distance between the electrodes of an electrolytic cell of the mercury cathode type wherein graphite anodes are spaced from a flowing layer of mercury, which comprises, carrier means supporting the graphite anodes, a cell sole. adapted to support. the mercury cathode layer opposite said anodes, said cell sole being provided with a plurality of recesses, spacing members seated in said recesses and axially movable therein for displacement toward and away from said anodes, means actuatable exteriorly of said electrolytic cell for moving said spacing members, at least one support assembly mounted outside said cell, said support assembly including a first support element engageable with said carrier means to position said carrier means and its anodes in relation to the cell sole and a second support element engaging said first supportelement and mounted for vertical displacement, and means for vertically displacing said support assembly, said support assembly being movable downwardly to bring the anodes into contact with said spacing members and to release said carrier fromsaid support assembly when said spacing members are displaced upwardly from said recesses,

3. A device for adjusting the distance between the electrodes of an electrolytic. cell of the mercury cathode. type wherein graphite anodes are spaced from a flowing layer of mercury, which comprises, carrier means supporting the graphite anodes, a cell sole. adapted. to support the mercury cathode layer opposite. said anodes, said cell sole being provided with a plurality of recesses, spacing members seated in said recesses and axially movabletherein: for displacement'toward and away from said anodes, means actuatable exteriorly of said electrolytic cell for moving said spacing members, at least one support assembly mounted outside said cell, said support assembly includinga first support element engageable' with said car rier means to position said carrier means and its anodes in relation to the cell sole, and a second support element engaging said first support element and mounted for ver-' tical displacement, and means for vertically displacing said second support element,,saidf. first and second support elements being adjustable vertically relatively to. one another andbeing movable downwardly to bring the anodes (3. into contact. with said spacing members and to. release said carrier from said support assembly when said spacing members are displaced upwardly from said recesses.

4. A device for adjusting the distance between the electrodes of an electrolytic cell of the mercury cathode type wherein graphite anodes are spaced from a flowing layer of mercury, which comprises, carrier means supporting the graphite anodes, a cell sole adapted to support the mercury cathode layer opposite said anodes, said cell sole being provided with a plurality of recesses, spacing members seated in said, recesses and axially movable therein for displacement toward and away from said anodes,

' means actuatable exteriorly of said electrolytic cell for moving said spacing members, at least one support assembly mounted outside said cell, said support assembly including a first support element engageable with said carrier means to position said carrier means and its anodes in relation to the cell sole, and a second support element engaging said first support element and mounted for vertical displacement, and means for vertically displacing said second support element, said first and second support elements being threadedly interconnected in telescoping relationship for vertical adjustment relatively to one another and being movable downwardly to bring the anodes into contact with said spacing members and to release said carrier from said support assembly when I said spacing members are displaced upwardly from said recesses.

5. A device for adjusting. the distance between the electrodes of an electrolytic cell of the mercury cathode type wherein graphite anodes are spaced from a flowing layer of mercury, which comprises, carrier means supporting the graphite anodes, a cell sole adapted to support the mercury cathode layer opposite said anodes, said cell sole being provided with a plurality of recesses, spacing members seated in said recesses and axially movable therein for displacement toward and away from said anodes, means actuatable exteriorly of said electrolytic cell for axially moving said spacing members, at least one support assembly mounted outside said cell and engageable with said carrier means to position said carrier means and its anodes in relation to the cell sole, and means for vertically displacing said support assembly, said support assembly being movable downwardly to bring the anodes into contact with said spacing members and to release said carrier from said support assembly when said spacing members are displaced upwardly from said recesses, said means for axially moving said spacing members and said means for vertically displacing said support assembly being interconnected;

6. A device for adjusting the distance between the electrodes of an electrolytic cell of the mercury cathode type wherein graphite anodes are spaced from a flowing layer of mercury, which comprises, carrier means supporting the graphite anodes, a cell sole adapted to support the mercury cathode layer opposite said anodes, said cell sole being provided with a plurality of recesses, spacing members seated in said recesses and axially movable therein for displacement towmd and away from said anodes, means actuatable exteriorly of said electrolytic cell for axially moving said spacing members, at least one support assembly mounted outside said cell and engageable with said carrier means to position said carrier means audits anodes in relation to the cell sole, and means for vertically displacing said support assembly, said support assembly being movable downwardly to bring the anodes into contact with said spacing members and to release said carrier from said support assembly when said spacing members are displaced upwardly from said recesses, said means for axially moving said spacing members and said means for. vertically displacing said support assembly being interconnected, andcomprising a rotatable rod carrying cams for moving said spacing 5 members and said support assembly in predetermined 2,502,888 sequence. 2,542,989

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 5 1,047,182 2,328,665 Munson Sept. 7, 1943 490,983

6 I Ravenscroft Apr. 4, 1950 Carter Feb. 27, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS France July 22, 1953 Canada Mar. 3, 1953 

1. A DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ELECTRODES OF AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL OF THE MERCURY CATHODE TYPE WHEREIN GRAPHITE ANODES AR SPACED FROM A FLOWING LAYER OF MERCURY, WHICH COMPRISES, CARRIER MEANS SUPPORTING THE GRAPHITE ANODES, A CELL SOLE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE MERCURY CATHODE LAYER OPPOSITE SAID ANODES, SAID CELL SOLE BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURAILTY OF RECESSES, SPACING MEMBERS SEATED IN SAID RECESSES AND AXIALLY MOVABLE THEREIN FOR DISPLACEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID ANODES, MEANS ACTUATABLE EXTERIORLY OF SAID ELECTROLYTIC CELL FOR AXIALLY MOVING SAID SPACING MEMBERS, AT LEAST 